CRMC Cadwell Park Race Report
Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 9:21 pm
Kevin Can’t be Caught at Cadwell
Friday 5 September saw us all head of up North to Cadwell Park. For us from down South it’s the long haul up the A1, past Sawtry, home of the committee meetings, and further, on and on. Then when we are almost losing the will to live we shoot off down what can only be described as large farm tracks – whether I follow the Sat Nav or Jane’s navigation it’s always the same – and people choose to live here! Anyhow we made it.
Kevin was off again on caring duties for his Mum – he is a good son! So I had my seventh passenger in seven races – Alan Bedford, an experienced passenger to say the least. We signed on Saturday morning having visited Anji’s naughty cue for a passenger change. Mike Bellaby was doing his scrutineering of sidecars and at the predetermined time we started noise testing; having done all the sidecars I started on some of the solos as the queue looked far too impressive in size. I saw some sidecars heading off and thought they were off to scrutineering – no, they had heard the call for practice! On hindsight it would have been nice if one of my fellow competitors had given me the nod, but no. I have never been so disorganised – once the penny dropped we threw some fuel in and headed off to the Collecting Area in a mad panic. Fortunately one of the solos in the session before us had become incontinent and a mopping up regime was in place – a chance to get our breath.
After a good practice the grid was set for race 1. Kevin Hunt and Alan Cracknell on pole, David Johnson and Des Kingsmill alongside, then Mike Bellaby and Mr Gristwood – we were row 3 – no surprise there (well I set the grid!). We had a fabulous start going round the outside of Eddy Wright and Kieran Clarke at Coppice. As we entered Park we were in second place behind Kevin and Alan then…………it stopped. We were in the middle of the track, twenty outfits behind us, and the motor had gone sick. We pulled off to the inside to get out of the way; unfortunately Brian Gray and Vicky Cooke were so close behind we became entangled and both headed off to the grass. I tried to stop but Brian kept pushing – what a fiasco. Kevin was in front, chased by Eddy, then Mike – Brian was back on the track in tenth place and on a mission! We re-joined way, way back, did a couple of laps going from full song to splutter mode before pulling off the circuit (dead battery or severely sick). On lap four Ian Champ and Della Bufton pulled off – Ian missed a gear causing the pistons to kiss various valves. Brian was up into sixth place by lap three and by lap four took Ray Reeves with Mark Willis in the chair. Mark is Sean Reeves’ F2 passenger but was taking to the classic front exit like a duck to water – unlike some of us he has youth on his side. So at the flag Period 3 winners were Alan and Kevin with Eddy and Kieran second and Mike and Dave third. Period 2 went to Tony Sawyer and Ginny Bourne and Period 1 winners Steve Stevenson and Jono Borrington, second Steve and Byron Reilly with Ron Blakeley and Belinda Colston in a strong third place. David and Des didn’t make the start due to engine issues which would become more apparent later. Another outfit listed but not present was Phil Luhr and Dave Currell. Phil’s Dad passed away Saturday night – all CRMC members send their condolences to Phil, his brother Pete, Mum Vera and all the family.
So, after some fettling we were all back with Sue to get race 12, our second, on the track. Kevin and Alan were again on pole but alongside this time were Eddy and Kieran. Row two Brian and Vicky and alongside them the right-hand chair outfit of Jon Perkins and Ian Nickels. David and Des’ new battery was helping power them from tenth on the grid to fourth by the end of lap one; by lap two they were in front of the right-hand chair. Also after a bad first lap Brian and Vicky were heading to the front. We, well it’s too painful to talk about… The 750cc red plates were being led by Steve and Jono on their BSA. Newcomers John and Sue Ryden aboard their 750 BMW (ex two Daves) were getting to grips with it. Ron and Belinda on their 750 BMW were running really well with the No.54 of Steve and Byron in their sights. Lap four and Brian and Vicky were passed David and Des. So at the flag another win for Kevin and Alan with Eddy and Kieran second and Brian and Vicky in third place. Period 2 again went to Tony and Ginny, whilst Period 1 went to Steve and Jono, with Steve and Byron second and Ron and Belinda in third.
After another great night in the clubhouse drinking “sodas” the slidey gang joined Sue back in the Collecting Area at 11 o’clock Sunday morning – well that’s not too bad. We hopefully had 12 volts in the battery. Kevin and Alan were – well you probably guessed – but this time Brian and Vicky were alongside on the front row, with Eddy and Kieran on row two with David and Des – well that was the plan but a cracked crank -haft halted the weekend’s fun. Sadly the race was red flagged on lap two when Ron and Belinda flipped their outfit at the exit of the Bus Stop – according to Ron they had never gone so well, keeping up with Steve and Byron - they had never gone faster right up to the point they crashed! Belinda was most injured – she had placed herself between the outfit and the ground to protect the outfit from damage! Shaken but not stirred they will be back for Snetterton. At the restart it was Jon and Ian chasing Kevin and Alan, with Brian and Vicky in third. On the last lap we were chasing Eddy and Kieran, around Park they slowed, they were under-fuelled – we passed them, with Mike and Dave now in our sights. At the bottom of The Mountain they were all over the grass; at first Dave admitted responsibility for this wayward course but on hindsight decided, as he pays the bills, that it was driver Mike’s fault! As for us, we didn’t care whose fault as we took fourth place and our first finish of the weekend. Kevin and Alan took the win ahead of Jon and Ian, with Brian and Vicky third (we were fourth). Top Period 2 Tony and Ginny, first Period 1 Steve and Jono, second Steve and Byron and third Russell Bleach and Penny Daws.
Race 30 our last go for the weekend. Kevin and Alan were on pole alongside the No.8 outfit of Jon and Ian. It’s very noticeable that the slideys are willing to share grid slots, except for Kevin and Alan who seem to hog pole all the time! Our start wasn’t as good as we had hoped and we chased Kevin, Jon and Eddy into Park. Jon went in deep allowing Eddy through – unfortunately he seemed to lose his gears and we shot through into second place – blooming heck!! We peddled over the line as fast as we could, waiting – sure enough Jon came past on lap three and on four Eddy passed – still it was good while it lasted. Steve and Jono were leading the 750 field chasing Ian and Grant on their Triple. The weekend had been hard on the sidecars, the record breaking pace taking its toll on the classic outfits; Ray and Mark going out on lap four, whilst Vince Worthington and Paul Thomas went the following lap. Period 3 winners Kevin and Alan, second Jon and Ian and third Eddy and Kieran. Period 2 Tony and Ginny, Period 1 Steve and Jono ahead of Steve and Byron with Russell and Penny third.
So ended a tough weekend of fantastic speed, but hard on machinery – still slideys are made of tough stuff and you can bet they will all be out, and more, at Snetterton – Fingers and Sugar Ray, The Pirate and Buddha, Clive and Andrew, you can put money on it. Don’t put it on us though – Kevin’s fine, Kevin’s Mum’s fine – the outfit is sick, but still it means I’ll get to watch the best racing in the CRMC.
Ian
Friday 5 September saw us all head of up North to Cadwell Park. For us from down South it’s the long haul up the A1, past Sawtry, home of the committee meetings, and further, on and on. Then when we are almost losing the will to live we shoot off down what can only be described as large farm tracks – whether I follow the Sat Nav or Jane’s navigation it’s always the same – and people choose to live here! Anyhow we made it.
Kevin was off again on caring duties for his Mum – he is a good son! So I had my seventh passenger in seven races – Alan Bedford, an experienced passenger to say the least. We signed on Saturday morning having visited Anji’s naughty cue for a passenger change. Mike Bellaby was doing his scrutineering of sidecars and at the predetermined time we started noise testing; having done all the sidecars I started on some of the solos as the queue looked far too impressive in size. I saw some sidecars heading off and thought they were off to scrutineering – no, they had heard the call for practice! On hindsight it would have been nice if one of my fellow competitors had given me the nod, but no. I have never been so disorganised – once the penny dropped we threw some fuel in and headed off to the Collecting Area in a mad panic. Fortunately one of the solos in the session before us had become incontinent and a mopping up regime was in place – a chance to get our breath.
After a good practice the grid was set for race 1. Kevin Hunt and Alan Cracknell on pole, David Johnson and Des Kingsmill alongside, then Mike Bellaby and Mr Gristwood – we were row 3 – no surprise there (well I set the grid!). We had a fabulous start going round the outside of Eddy Wright and Kieran Clarke at Coppice. As we entered Park we were in second place behind Kevin and Alan then…………it stopped. We were in the middle of the track, twenty outfits behind us, and the motor had gone sick. We pulled off to the inside to get out of the way; unfortunately Brian Gray and Vicky Cooke were so close behind we became entangled and both headed off to the grass. I tried to stop but Brian kept pushing – what a fiasco. Kevin was in front, chased by Eddy, then Mike – Brian was back on the track in tenth place and on a mission! We re-joined way, way back, did a couple of laps going from full song to splutter mode before pulling off the circuit (dead battery or severely sick). On lap four Ian Champ and Della Bufton pulled off – Ian missed a gear causing the pistons to kiss various valves. Brian was up into sixth place by lap three and by lap four took Ray Reeves with Mark Willis in the chair. Mark is Sean Reeves’ F2 passenger but was taking to the classic front exit like a duck to water – unlike some of us he has youth on his side. So at the flag Period 3 winners were Alan and Kevin with Eddy and Kieran second and Mike and Dave third. Period 2 went to Tony Sawyer and Ginny Bourne and Period 1 winners Steve Stevenson and Jono Borrington, second Steve and Byron Reilly with Ron Blakeley and Belinda Colston in a strong third place. David and Des didn’t make the start due to engine issues which would become more apparent later. Another outfit listed but not present was Phil Luhr and Dave Currell. Phil’s Dad passed away Saturday night – all CRMC members send their condolences to Phil, his brother Pete, Mum Vera and all the family.
So, after some fettling we were all back with Sue to get race 12, our second, on the track. Kevin and Alan were again on pole but alongside this time were Eddy and Kieran. Row two Brian and Vicky and alongside them the right-hand chair outfit of Jon Perkins and Ian Nickels. David and Des’ new battery was helping power them from tenth on the grid to fourth by the end of lap one; by lap two they were in front of the right-hand chair. Also after a bad first lap Brian and Vicky were heading to the front. We, well it’s too painful to talk about… The 750cc red plates were being led by Steve and Jono on their BSA. Newcomers John and Sue Ryden aboard their 750 BMW (ex two Daves) were getting to grips with it. Ron and Belinda on their 750 BMW were running really well with the No.54 of Steve and Byron in their sights. Lap four and Brian and Vicky were passed David and Des. So at the flag another win for Kevin and Alan with Eddy and Kieran second and Brian and Vicky in third place. Period 2 again went to Tony and Ginny, whilst Period 1 went to Steve and Jono, with Steve and Byron second and Ron and Belinda in third.
After another great night in the clubhouse drinking “sodas” the slidey gang joined Sue back in the Collecting Area at 11 o’clock Sunday morning – well that’s not too bad. We hopefully had 12 volts in the battery. Kevin and Alan were – well you probably guessed – but this time Brian and Vicky were alongside on the front row, with Eddy and Kieran on row two with David and Des – well that was the plan but a cracked crank -haft halted the weekend’s fun. Sadly the race was red flagged on lap two when Ron and Belinda flipped their outfit at the exit of the Bus Stop – according to Ron they had never gone so well, keeping up with Steve and Byron - they had never gone faster right up to the point they crashed! Belinda was most injured – she had placed herself between the outfit and the ground to protect the outfit from damage! Shaken but not stirred they will be back for Snetterton. At the restart it was Jon and Ian chasing Kevin and Alan, with Brian and Vicky in third. On the last lap we were chasing Eddy and Kieran, around Park they slowed, they were under-fuelled – we passed them, with Mike and Dave now in our sights. At the bottom of The Mountain they were all over the grass; at first Dave admitted responsibility for this wayward course but on hindsight decided, as he pays the bills, that it was driver Mike’s fault! As for us, we didn’t care whose fault as we took fourth place and our first finish of the weekend. Kevin and Alan took the win ahead of Jon and Ian, with Brian and Vicky third (we were fourth). Top Period 2 Tony and Ginny, first Period 1 Steve and Jono, second Steve and Byron and third Russell Bleach and Penny Daws.
Race 30 our last go for the weekend. Kevin and Alan were on pole alongside the No.8 outfit of Jon and Ian. It’s very noticeable that the slideys are willing to share grid slots, except for Kevin and Alan who seem to hog pole all the time! Our start wasn’t as good as we had hoped and we chased Kevin, Jon and Eddy into Park. Jon went in deep allowing Eddy through – unfortunately he seemed to lose his gears and we shot through into second place – blooming heck!! We peddled over the line as fast as we could, waiting – sure enough Jon came past on lap three and on four Eddy passed – still it was good while it lasted. Steve and Jono were leading the 750 field chasing Ian and Grant on their Triple. The weekend had been hard on the sidecars, the record breaking pace taking its toll on the classic outfits; Ray and Mark going out on lap four, whilst Vince Worthington and Paul Thomas went the following lap. Period 3 winners Kevin and Alan, second Jon and Ian and third Eddy and Kieran. Period 2 Tony and Ginny, Period 1 Steve and Jono ahead of Steve and Byron with Russell and Penny third.
So ended a tough weekend of fantastic speed, but hard on machinery – still slideys are made of tough stuff and you can bet they will all be out, and more, at Snetterton – Fingers and Sugar Ray, The Pirate and Buddha, Clive and Andrew, you can put money on it. Don’t put it on us though – Kevin’s fine, Kevin’s Mum’s fine – the outfit is sick, but still it means I’ll get to watch the best racing in the CRMC.
Ian
